Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, O! you and I have heard our fathers say, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I will with patience hear and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR, and his train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day. Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes,' As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius. Ant. Cæsar. Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat [8] That is, Lucius Junius Brutus. [9] A ferret has red eyes. JOHNSON. Cas. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, [Exe. CESAR and his Train. CASCA stays behind. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad? Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice; what was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown ;-yet. 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets ;-and, as I told you, he put it by once; but, for all that, to my thinking, he he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him : again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he of fered it the third time; he put it the third time by and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choaked Casar; for he swooned, and fell down at it: And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: What? Did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like he hath the falling-sickness. And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat to cut.-An I had been a man of any occupation,' if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues-and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done or said, any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul!-and forgave him with all their hearts : But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'the face again: But those, that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but, for mine own part, [1] Had I been a mechanic, one of the plebeians to whom he offered his throat. JOHNSON VOL. VIII. it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so farewell, both. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Of any bold or noble enterprize, However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite. [Exit. Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you : Come home to me, and I will wait for you. Cas. I will do so :-till then, think of the world. [Exit BRUTUS. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit. [2] The best metal or temper may be worked into qualities contrary to its original constitution. JOHNSON.. af [8] The meaning I think is this, "Cæsar loves Brutus, but if Brutus and I were to change places, his love should not humour me," should not take hold of my fection, so as to make me forget my principles. JOHNSON. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home? Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth" Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Casca. A common slave (you know him well by sight,) Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by, Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore, they sa Men, all in fire, walk up and down the streets. Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you, he would be there to-morrow. [5] The whole weight or momentum of this globe. JOHNSON. [6] Glar'd has a singular propriety, as it is highly expressive of the furious asintillation of a lion's eye. STEEVENS. |